I have a a whole collection of various carrying cases and “pouches” that I’ve used over the years to carry different meters, syringes, vials, insulin pens, needles, and test strip containers. I’m very happy that using OmniPod means I have reduced that bulk down to just the PDM, a small lancet device, and the bottle of Frestyle strips. So I now use a soft-side black case that Lily provided at some point (about 2 inches thick, 8 inches long, and 3-4 inches wide). It is actually a little bigger than necessary for those three items, but the other cases I have are all either even bigger or won’t fit the PDM.
So I’m curious about what other people use to carry their PDM and lancet/strips with them day-to-day…
I carry the PDM in my pocket. I keep strips and lancets at home and at work. If I have to carry strips and lancets somewhere else, I usually put a lancet or two in the bottle with the strips (I keep a spare empty) and just put it in my pocket, too.
I use the case Insulet provided. I am thinking about buying a carrying case from Stickmedesigns.com ! They have a lot of nice cases on their website.
Don’t you use the lancet device? I, too, carry the PDM in a pocket when I leave the car or my desk or wherever, when I can check BG before-hand. But the times when will need to test, I hate having the lancet device and the strips canister to lug around.
I use a pencil case. It’s perfect and it has little stretching loops on the inside top i put the control solution a couple spare lancets and extra batteries. It helps that it’s cute too =)
I use one of the Ameribag healthy back bag “bagletts”. They are 8" x 4.5" x 3.5". They will hold the PDM, lancet, strips, glucose tabs, keys, ID/credit cards, cellphone. I throw this in my purse when I carry the larger purse. I pull it out when I am at home. II use it by itself when I go out shopping. Worn as a cross body. Comes in a variety of colors. There is a slightly larger variety which will carry more that has a couple of patterns. The distressed nylon is easy to clean, throw in the wash.
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I go heavy. I put the PDM, test strips, inulin bottle, spare batteries and lancet device in case that came with my PDM (2). I stick that along with two spare pods, a copy of Calorie King, and snacks into a softside lunch lunch box.
Wow - I am new to the omnipod. I have an insulin bottle at work in my small fridge, but do you have to change your pods on the fly to have to carry around extra pods and the insulin?
I have 3 meters. One at home, one in the office, and one in my car. I also have a vial of insulin and a spare pod at the office. If I am going to be a couple of hours form home I will pack insulin and a spare pod. I do not carry a bg meter with me since I use the Dexcom cgm system.
I use the cosmetics bags that Clinique gives during bonus time. I usually carry a bottle of insulin, lancets, strips, syringes, extra batteries, alcohol swabs, extra pods and the PDM. I find the bags to be perfect but it could be a little feminine for the guys.
It was recommended during training to have insulin and extra pods with me at all times in case a pod fails. I also try to hold out as long as possible to change my pod so I can use up as much of the insulin in it as possible. I routinely change pods at work, at relatives, in the car, wherever. When I am traveling away from home, I bring long-lasting insulin as well so if my PDM fails I will still have background insulin. I need to bring a backup meter too to cover me if the PDM fails.
I’ve been thinking about this alot lately. I’ve been using Omnipod for about a month and have been carrying the pdm, insulin, syringe, extra pod, extra batteries, glucose, ect. all the stuff my trainer told me to “always have on me” stuffed into the pouch that came with the pod. On one hand, I don’t like having that much stuff stuffed into a bag, on the other, it can really be convenient. I actually pulled a pod off while taking off a sweatshirt at the soccer field this weekend (about an hour from home) and since I had everything I needed, just changed the pod right there while the game continued. It seems small, but it was great to not miss a minute of the game to hike to the car and deal with it.
So, I am also curious about what to carry, how to carry it, etc. I’m thinking about trying one small pouch with the pdm, test strips, lancet, and another bag that could stay in the car or at my desk that has everything else in it.
Do you carry extra pods everywhere? or just insulin and a syringe for an emergency “oops, I pulled the pod off.”
I am an on-the-go person, so I keep insulin in three places: in a Frio Case in the car (I live in Washington state, so it rarely would get too warm in there!) at my apartment, and at my boyfriends house in the county… Like Brad I too find myself changing pods in all sorts of places, most often, in the car… but, unlike Brad, I carry insulin with me only very rarely (like, for instance, when I am waterskiing, and I know the risk of my pod falling off is very high…Also, I get my insulin in Cartriges, which work just as well, are less expensive (for some unknown reason), and are MUCH smaller than a whole vial of insulin, holding only enough for 2 pod changes…
I carry my PDM, lancets, lip balm and test strips, along with Luna Moons gummies…sometimes in the OmniPod case, but lately, in a small clutch bag where I can also fit my phone and my keys, and a little bit of cash if needs be.
I find that if I carry an extra pod for too long, once I use it I will usually get a PDM error, priming error or occulsion… I guess mostly from being beat up in my bag all the time… I DO keep spare pods in the car at all times, and some at my boyfriends house…
Doesnt hurt to be prepared, but the more used to the pod you get, the less you will knock it off, and the less usefull all the extra goods will be…
You are not the first one who commented on extra pods failing. I think the last person I saw comment was Sherri Ann. I had a problem once when I was on a business trip (in Indiana, I live in NJ). I had my active pod occlude about 6 hours before it was due to expire. No big deal. I was teaching a class, so I waited until lunch to change to a new pod. It was one I had been carrrying around for a month or two, and it only lasted about 10 - 15 minutes before failing. At afternoon break I put my second spare on with the same results.
Since then I have been following Sherri Ann’s routine. When I have to change pods, I use a spare and replace it with a new one. Since I have been doing that, I don’t remember having any failures.
I am currently using an old accu-check advantage case. The case fits, comfortably, the meter with the gel case, multiclix lancet device, freestyle strips, extra lancet drums, a vial of inculin (no box), alcohol wipes and a couple of syringes. I just throw the whole contraption in my messenger bag (that I carry instead of a purse) along with my Dexcom CGM and am good to go. Ugly old case that it is in the basic black, I couldn’t go anywhere without it. The case, filled with everything listed above, is 4x6x2 inches.
No, I just used the BD capped lancets and stick myself. It’s a lot quicker than loading the lancet device and usually no more painful.
I’m new to having to carry the PDM and accessories around. I’ve used the PDM case that came with the Pod and also have some other cases to hold the supplies I need when on a trip but what I was trying to do is get it down to the least amount of stuff needed for business trip and meetings that I have. I found this camera case that fits the PDM w/out the skin on and it has a little zipper pouch on the top that holds my small lancet device. Then I bought this metal vial that I’ve put on my key ring that holds my strips and a 2 lancets if needed. If I have a business meeting I will take out the PDM w/out the skin and just carrry it in my pocket along with the key attached to the vial with my strips. I keep my extra supplies in my vehicle if needed I can go get them but day trips and meeting try pack light as possible. Got the case and vial at Walmart, about $10 for both. Case is nice and small and it has a belt loop and a carabiner hook on it to attach my keys to if just carrying it into work.
I think that women have a much easier time carrying supplies because we can just throw what we need into a handbag, and we are good to go. I usually just use the case that Insulet sent with the PDM. I keep insulin, the PDM, lancets, strips, alcohol wipes, a couple of syringes for emergencies, and one spare Pod that I change out and use every three days, replacing it with a “fresh” spare each time.
However, a solution that may work for men as well as women is a small case called the Baby Bon Voyage by Baggallini. Log on to www.baggallini.com and check out their bags. The Baby Bon Voyage is only 7 x 5.5 x 2.5" and it can be worn cross-body, over the shoulder, or just hooked to a belt. The great thing is that it comes in colors like black, canvas tan, brown, and olive so it is a unisex bag. Baggallini is a company that was started by airline personnel who designed everything from totes to purses to backpacks to camera bags that were durable, lightweight, and easy to travel with. I bought a Baggallini purse for a recent trip to Florida, and I loved it. It carried my PDM and supplies and had loops or zipped pockets for everything else inside, so it was a great, lightweight way to go.
I am seriously considering a Baby Bon Voyage (in a “girly” color) as a fun summer tote for my PDM.
Good luck, guys!
Baggallini also has a cell phone/ PDA carrier (under their “wallets” link) that is smaller and might also work. After all, if a person can carry a PDA in one, why not a PDM? I like Baggallini because their products are tough yet washable if the tote gets dropped or dirty.